December 30, 2018

Wrapping Up the Year

It's that lethargic week between Christmas and New Years where time and day aren't terribly relevant, although at least some adulting was necessary. But mostly it was a quiet week, one of eating leftovers, lounging in pajamas and watching Harry Potter movies. I should really have started keeping track of how many times I've seen each movie. I'm going to say at least 25 times a year, if not more. Never gets old. I haven't been this obsessed with a fandom since I followed the Dead around. But I digress.

I did manage a few crafts in December, although not the volume that I'm used to making. I bought a bunch of sparkly jewelry at The Christmas Tree Shop and made a festive frame for the pic of the kids with Santa. Dale was not a happy camper. This was his 3rd trip to see Santa and 3rd time he had a meltdown.

I did a few quick cross stitch projects in Dec. as well. A couple friends up in Maine destashed kits they got ages ago (the copyright dates were in the early and mid 1990s) so I knocked a bunch of them out. West Quoddy Head Light is located in Lubec, Maine.

I did some small ornaments to send to Tina & Pam out in OH....and I was in such a rush to get them in the mail early that I spaced on taking pics. But I did remember to shoot the Santa I did for Lisa and celestial I did for Annette (which wasn't a kit, but from one of my pattern books). It kinda looks like a fancy Death Star. I also made them cranberry bread.

This was another kit that my friends sent me so I whipped it up real quick for my friend Tracy.

The other project I did was a Witch/Yule jar. The tutorial suggested using wintery greens, crystals, lights, etc. It took a few days for me to decide how I wanted it to look and when I finished, realized it really isn't any different than all the other Christmas-themed altered art jars I've done in the past.

Still, it was enjoyable to assemble. Finally found a use for that wizard head & crystal pendant. That's hung from under the lid. I used a pic of a vintage card that has a pink tree, and added the owl, holly leaf & berries, moonstone crystals and sparkly 'snow'.

I covered the jar lid with natural paper and glued the metal finding on it, and then glued an old crystal cluster earring to that. That's a stretchy hair elastic around the side of the lid, and then wrapped the lights under the lid.

Hung a couple jingle bells and charms from the lights.

I was out running a bunch of errands and decided to head down to Town Neck Beach. I thought maybe I could do a bit of beachcombing. Nope. The wind was so cold and I hadn't brought a hat or scarf. Even if I had it was too windy to walk on the beach anyway. It really bugs me that this tree is always crooked.

Choppy out on the Bay.

Low tide too. I was bummed that I couldn't look for glass.

Next stop was downtown at the Grist Mill and Shawme Pond

I know I've shot this picture like a hundred times but it really never gets old.

that is a lot of crafty projects! way more motivated then I've been lately. and what a lovely day for a walk ... it's been pouring buckets here -at least it isn't snow where I need to be out shoveling!

Poor Dale. What a great picture though! I absolutely love the jar. It's adorable. I'm telling you, JoJo, you need to sell some of your stuff on Etsy or something. You're so talented. Oh, and those pictures of the beach are tricky. If you didn't know better, you'd think it was 80 degrees out there. :)

Thanks Elsie! I tried doing Etsy several years ago....it's a pain to shoot and edit the pics and fill out their pages and pages of info for listing. I would like to move this stuff outta here somehow...I keep buying beads but I don't make anything cause I have enough as it is. lol

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About Moi

I am originally from Sandwich on Cape Cod, MA, but left in 1989 for the San Francisco Bay Area. Moved up to Washington State in 1999 and returned to the Cape area in the summer of 2011. I have an amazing husband who I love with all my heart & soul, three awesome stepkids and two dogs. I'm addicted to beads, beach combing, crafts, travel and photography.